3(n m^monnm 



Hilltam l|agn? ^^^^Vi 

l0rn Hum 9tlf, 1039 
Itfi 3«Iii nil. 1902 



» »» 
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The following Tributes to 
the memory of 

(Hal HtUiam ?J|ai|n? i^rrtJ 

Gentleman, Scholar, Soldier, 
Christian, who passed away 
on the 7th day of July, 1902, 
are tendered to his wide cir- 
cle of friends by his wife 
upon the fourteenth anni- 
versary of their marriage 
day— October 17th, 1888. 






(CnL IBtUiam Sjannc JJrrrij. 



Col. W. n. Terry, one of South Carolina's dis- 
tinguished sous, died last evening at 7,15 o'clock 
at his lovely home, "San Souci," three miles from 
the city. The news of his death soon spread 
throughout the city and brought sorrow to the 
homes of every citizen of Greenville. 

At the time of his death there were present at 
his bedside members of his family, his physician, 
Dr. T. T. Earle, John W. McCullough and D. P. 
Verncr, life-long friends. His end was peaceful 
and restful. 

As a public man, Colonel Perry proved himself 
a wise and careful legislator, noted for his quiet, 
but active and practical usefulness. Reared by 
his father in that school of political ethics and 
statesmanship, in which he belonged, and was a 
leader in the purer and better days of Carolina's 
history, he had none of the sordid and selfish 
arts of the demagogue and political trickster. 
As a professional man and practitioner he was 
honorable, fair and conscientious ; as an advocate, 
without being rhetorical, he had great weight 
and influence before a jury. In character, he 
was manly, truthful and modest and enjoyed a 
personal character admired by all who knew him, 
for the purity and dignity of his private life. 

Hon, William Hayne Perry, ex-congressman 
from the Fourth district of South Carolina was 
born in the city of Greenville on the 9th of June, 
1S39. He was a son and eldest child of ex- 



Governor Benj. F. Perry and Mrs. Elizabeth 
Frances Perry, a niece of Robert Y. Hayne, dis- 
tinguished as the compeer of Daniel Webster in 
the United States senate, and afterwards gover- 
nor of South Carolina. He received his early 
education in the elementary schools of his 
native city, and at an early age entered Furman 
University, where he remained for several years, 
successfully continuing his studies until he 
graduated. He was then sent to South Carolina 
College, in Columbia, where he remained not 
more than five or six months in the junior class, 
the exercises of the college being suspended at 
this time on account of an insurrection among 
the students. He was then sent north by his 
father where he entered the junior class at 
Harvard University, Cambridge. At the end of 
two years he graduated with distinguished 
honors in a large class, and was appointed fifth 
orator on the occasion of the commencement ex- 
ercises of the university. 

Upon his return home, Mr. Perry at once 
began reading law, and after two years of study, 
was admitted to the bar at Columbia at the age of 
21 years, and commenced the practice of his pro- 
fession in co-partnership with his father. Shortly 
afterwards, South Carolina seceded from the 
Union, and he immediately entered the service 
as a private in a troop of cavalry known as the 
Brooks troop, afterwards incorporated in the 
Hampton Legion, and commanded by the dis- 
tinguished general of that name. Mr. Perry 
served during the entire war in this troop, under 
the leadership of Stewart, Hampton and Butler, 
with great bravery and credit to himself, in most of 



the battles fought by the army of Northern Vir- 
ginia. On account of his popularity with his 
comrades, at the re-organization of the troop to 
which he belonged, he was elected first lieutenant 
of his company. Near the close of the war, his 
company in the meantime having been attached 
to the Second South Carolina regiment of 
cavalry, he was transferred with this command 
to defend the sea coast of South Carolina, and 
was in various severe engagements with the 
enemy. lie acted as adjutant of his regiment 
while on the coast and served as such to the end 
of the war, being on duty in and around Wil- 
mington, N. C, at the time of the surrender of 
Johnson's army. 

In all the qualities of the soldier he had no 
superior, and on several occasions his conduct 
was such as to elicit the special notice and com- 
mendation of his superior officers. None were 
more brave, none more modest. On returning 
home after the surrender of the Confederate 
armies, he resumed the practice of his profession 
in connection with his father, and was at once 
elected a member of the state convention at the 
head of the ticket, being shortly afterward made 
a member of the legislature. 

Mr. Perry participated with the Democratic 
party in all the political questions of the period 
of reconstruction. In 1868 he was elected 
solicitor of the western circuit by an immense 
majority over his opponent, and discharged the 
duties of this office for four years with great 
ability, firmness and fairness. 

With energy and zeal Colonel Perry devoted 
himself to his profession and had a large com- 



manding practice, his father, meantime, having 
in a great measure withdrawn from the practice 
before the courts. Colonel Perry was elected 
state senator from Greenville County in 1880, 
and served his county for four years in this 
capacity, declining a re-election for the same 
By a unanimous vote, his name for the second 
time was presented to the congressional con- 
vention as a candidate for congress, and on 
November 4, 1S84, he was elected to represent, 
the Fourth congressional district of South 
Carolina. He was twice re-elected to Congress, 
and declined a fourth election in the fall of 1890. 
His term expired on March 4, 1891. At the time 
of his nomination in 1884, Colonel Perry stood at 
the head of the bar in Greenville, and was a 
prominent figure in the front ranks of his legal 

brethern of the state. 

During his last term in Congress, Colonel 
Perry was successful in securing an appropria- 
tion of $100,000 for a public building in Green- 
ville, now used as a postoffice and United States 
court building, which will be a lasting monu- 
ment to the memory of a noble man — William 
Hayne Perry. It will thus be seen that his 
native county has bestowed upon him nearly 
every office in her gift, and the trust that has 
been reposed in him to such a great extent, has 
in no wise been misplaced. He was appointed 
colonel of cavalry by Governor Orr after the 
war, and in 1881 Governor Hagood made him 

one of his aides. 

Colonel Perry was married in 1888 to Miss 
Louise, daughter of Hon. John Bankhead, mem- 
ber of Congress from Alabama. Three miles 



from Greenville, at his valuable country home, 
"Sans Souci," a home of beauty, comfort and hos- 
pitality, and memorable as the home of his dis- 
tinguished father, Colonel Perry enjoyed during 
the past five years of his life relaxation from the 
cares of his profession and lead the life of a 
country gentleman, surrounded by the charms of 
a home presided over by taste, culture and refine- 
ment. 

The deceased leaves a devoted vv^ife and two 
children, W. H. Perry, Jr., and Miss Louise Perry. 

— Greenville Daily News. 



Died at his beautiful home— Sans Souci— near 
the city of Greenville, about the going down of 
the sun, on the evening of July 7th, 1902, Wil- 
liam Hayne Perry, eldest son of the late Governor 
B. F. Perry and Mrs. Elizabeth Frances Perry of 
this city. 

Sorrow will touch deeply the hearts of many 
outside of his grief-stricken family, all over our 
State when first they read the sad intelligence 
that the noble and truehearted gentlemen, the 
honorable and upright citizen, and the brave and 
gallant soldier, Colonel William H. Perry, is dead. 

The sixty-three years of his life, except when 
in the service of his country as a soldier, or as a 
trusted public servant, were spent in the town 
and city of his birth. 

During all these years but one sentiment with 
regard to him has ever been felt by those who 
knew him well, either for a few years, or all the 
the days of his life, and that is that no truer type 



of a high-toned southern gentleman has ever 
been reared in our midst than William H. Perry. 

Brave, courteous and candid, and with a kindly 
heart, he was true as steel to his friends and 
magnanimous ever to his opponents. His child- 
hood and youth, and the maturity of his manhood 
were well known to the writer. During all these 
years he was honored with his friendship. 

Now, it is his sad privilege and pleasure to pay 
a last tribute to his memory, and to place upon 
record the estimation in which he held the noble 
qualities of his friend. 

Colonel Perry inherited in large degree the 
characteristics of his distinguished father, in 
piousness, candor and independence, and in 
patriotism, integrity and a high sense of honor. 

He enjoyed also the inestimable advantage of 

the precepts and example of a noble and devoted 

mother. 

At the beginning of the war and soon after his 

graduation from Harvard university, Colonel 
Perry volunteered in Captain Lanneau's com- 
pany, afterwards, and until the close of the war, a 
part of the Second regiment, S. C. calvary. Col- 
onel M. C. Butler commanding. 

Being promoted from sergeant to first lieuten- 
ant at the same time Captain Leonard Williams 
was elected captain of the company, he was with 
this gallant regiment in the series of brilliant en- 
gagements which made it famous during and 
since the war. One of his comrades speaking of 
his service, said : "No man or officer in our regi- 
ment was more highly respected than Lieutenant 
Perry. He was fearless in battle, always ready 
for duty of any kind, and I have known him on 



two occasions to come in from detached service 
to join his command and be with them when a 
battle was pending. Also I never heard him utter 
an oath nor express a sentiment that would not 
become a gentleman during the four years I was 
with him in the war." 

This is the noble record of one of our Confed- 
erate soldiers — a man of education and wealth, 
who volunteered as a private. 

It was a touching and interesting incident in 
the opera house a few weeks ago when the Daugh- 
ters of the Confederacy gave to his little son 
William H. Perry, Jr., the cross of honor for his 
father, then lying upon a bed of mortal illness. 
The long and honorable career of Colonel Perry 
as a member of the Legislature and State Senate, 
the Constitutional Convention and member of 
Congress, and as a lawyer and solicitor of his cir- 
cuit has already been published, and of him it 
may be truly said that in all these positions he 
measured up to his own high standard of the re- 
quirements of duty and patriotism. 

"How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, 
By all their country's wishes blest !" 

— S. S. C. in Greenville News. 

In the library at Sans Souci lay the remains of 
the noble soldier and true citizen, William Hayne 
Perry, when friends and relatives gathered on 
Wednesday afternoon to pay their last tribute of 
respect to one so greatly honored in life and so 
truly lamented in death. The casket was covered 
with the gray cloth worn by the soldiers of the 
Southern Confederacy, and encased within was a 



heart steadfast in devotion during life to the 
principles and memories represented by those 
who wore the gray, in a great conflict where im- 
perishable honors were won by himself and 
comrades. A solemn hush throughout the old 
mansion rendered most impressive the brief re- 
ligious service, where the family and friends 
were congregated in library and parlor, and the 
sweet old hymn, "Asleep in Jesus." was sung by 
fervent, tender voices whose cadences drew out 
the full meaning of the sacred song. 

Rev. A. R. Mitchell, the rector of Christ 
church, was assisted in the church services by 
Rev. Crosswell McBee, of Union, a relative of the 
deceased. There was a long procession of car- 
riages from Sans Souci, and when the cortege 
reached the opera house at the intersection of 
Coffee and Buncombe streets, the members of 
Camp Pulliam, United Confederate Veterans, the 
members of the Greenville Bar Association, the 
county officials and other prominent citizens 
joined the procession and marched to the church. 
After the conclusion of the services in the 
church, the casket was borne to the family plot 
in the cemetery, where the committal portion of 
the ritual was read by the rector, and the body 
was committed to the earth until the final resur- 
rection. The pall bearers were as follows : 

Honorary.— S. S. Crittenden, Hamlin Beattie, 
Alex. Macbeth, Jas. A. Finlay, Dr. T. T. Karle, Jas. 
A. Hoyt, A. Blythe, H. C. Markley, J. G. Haw- 
thorne, John B. Parks, J. Miles Pickens, of Pen- 
dleton. 

Active— H. C. Beattie, William Wilkins, Jas. H. 



Maxwell, D. P. Verner, J. W. McCullough, Theron 
Barle, Brandon Patton, J. H. Heyward. 



Col. T. Q. Donaldson, president of the local bar 
association, moved the court take up the resolu- 
tions in honor of the late William Hayne Perry. 
Judge Gary expressed pleasure at the motion and 
indicated his desire to hear the resolutions and 
any remarks thereon. Julius H. Heyward, a law 
partner of Colonel Perry until his retirement 
from active practice, then presented the follow- 
ing resolutions: 

Since the adjournment of the last term of this 
court another member of our profession has 
passed away and "rests from his labors." For 
forty years William H. Perry was a member of 
the Greenville bar, and with the exception of the 
four years of the Civil war and those of his last 
illness, was engaged in the active practice of his 
profession. 

His earl}' education was acquired in the schools 
of Greenville and he then entered South Carolina 
college and subsequently Harvard university, 
where he graduated about the year 1857. In 1859 
he was admitted to the bar, but his professional 
career was soon interrupted, for at the com- 
mencement of hostilities he promptly volunteered 
and went to the front. 

With characteristic gallantry and devotion to 
duty he served through the entire war under 
Stuart and Hampton, taking part in all the cam- 
paigns of Lee's army. Only after Lee's surrender 
did he return to his home and resume the prac- 
tice of his profession. While thus engaged, be- 



tween the years of 1865 and J890, lie was repeat- 
edly elected to public office. As solicitor for this, 
the Eighth judicial circuit, as member of the 
house of representatives of the state of South 
Carolina, as state senator for Greenville county, 
and as member of the lower house of Congress of 
the United States, his record was clear and clean 
and gave satisfaction to all. In 1895 his health 
began to fail and he retired from active practice. 
With the utmost fortitude and patience he en- 
dured for three years the suffering, mental and 
physical, incident upon a long, lingering illness, 
and finally succumbed without a complaining 
word at his home near this city. 

His well known character for perfect honesty, 
integrity and truthfulness gave him an influence 
with the courts and juries of this county such as 
has rarely been acquired by a practitioner at the 
bar, while his straightforward manliness and sin- 
cerity of purpose ever won for him the confidence 
and respect of all who knew him. Therefore, be 
it resolved by the members of the Greenville bar 
here assembled in court, 

That in the death of the Hon. William Hayne 
Perry our bar has lost a valuable member whose 
professional career and example might well be 
emulated by those of us remaining in life, the 
State of South Carolina a patriot who proved on 
many a battlefield his willingness to risk his life 
and limbs in her defense, his wife and family a 
devoted husband and father, and the community 
at large a truehearted, manly gentleman. 

Resolved further. That with the permission of 
the presiding judge, a page in the minute book 



of the Court of Common Pleas be set apart by the 
clerk of court and that these resolutions be in- 
scribed thereon. 

And, resolved further, That the clerk of court 
do send a certified copy of these resolutions to 
the widow of our deceased brother with an ex- 
pression of the respectful sympathy of the Green- 
ville bar, and that these resolutions be published 
in The Greenville Daily News and the Greenville 
Mountaineer. 

In seconding these resolutions. Colonel Don- 
aldson said he could not be content to lose the 
opportunity to lay a last tribute upon the altar of 
friendship. He had known Colonel Perry ever 
since the latter came to the bar in the relations of 
a friend, neighbor, lawyer, citizen and distin- 
guished public servant. Few men have been so 
well loved and honored in public end private life. 
He filled every responsible office with credit and 
ability and, though his distinguished father. 
Governor B. F. Perry, was well known to be a 
strong union man, yet when his state seceded W. 
H. Perry offered his young life in his country's 
defense. 

Capt. A. Blythe next spoke of his association 
with the deceased when he first entered Furman 
University as a student and this acquaintance 
was renewed when Colonel Perry, after graduat- 
ing at Harvard University, returned to Green- 
ville and took up the practice of law. Their 
friendship was intimate, mutual and delightful. 
He spoke of Colonel Perry's career as a soldier 
with unreserved admiration and asserted that he 
was absolutely wanting in physical fear; no 



danger of circumstance ever disturbed his steady 
nerve, and he has seen him ride with grace and 
ease when shot and shell were killing men and 
horses around him thick and fast. He recited 
several incidents within his own personal know- 
ledge, of rare coolness and courage displayed by 
Colonel Perry on the bloody fields, but most 
beautiful was an instance he recited of the fairness 
and sincerity of the man as displayed by his con- 
duct towards the speaker during the disturbed 
political conditions following that terrible Civil 

war. 
Jos. A. McCullough spoke of how time has left 

her legend of change upon all things human 
and mortal. Of those at the bar when he entered, 
sixteen of them are no longer here ; eight have 
passed over the silent river, and eight have 
sought homes in strange cities. When a great 
man dies, the public is not concerned in the 
fortune he may have left ; but all men are benefi- 
ciaries of a noble, pure and sincere life. Direct- 
ness and fairness were the leading characteristics 
of Colonel Perry's make-up. The characteristics 
of coolness and composure as recited by his com- 
rades in arms marked the man as a hero in every 
walk of life, in private life, in political life, and 
even in the unexpressed agony of the sick room. 
He proved the hero that he was when death and 
danger faced him and the thousands who fol- 
lowed the fortunes of the ill-fated Confederacy. 

L. K. Clyde felt that he would be recreant in 
friendship's duty to fail to speak of his admira- 
tion and reverence for the manly character of 
his departed brother. No man was ever truer to 
his principles and to the people whom he served 



so long and so well He seemed never to seek 
popular approval, but the people saw in him the 
innate elements of true manhood. His word was 
his bond, and no man ever dared doubt the rep- 
resentation of a fact as made by William Hayne 
Perry, 

Adam C. Welborn said that this was his first 
effort upon such an occasion, but felt constrained 
to speak in the name and to the memory of 
William H. Perry. As a young man, he had 
sought the honor of reading law in the office 
of his departed friend and his distinguished 
father, "the grand old Roman," Governor Perry. 
He offered as an amendment to the resolutions 
that the same be published also in the Greenville 
Mountaineer, of which Colonel Perry's father 
was at one time editor. The amendment was ac- 
cepted. 

William G. Sirrine regretted that he came to 
the bar after Colonel Perry retired from active 
practice, but desired to speak of the noble and 
patient Christian fortitude displayed in the last 
few months of his suffering. 

W. C. Cothrau, also one of the younger mem- 
bers, had not enjoyed the pleasure of association 
with Colonel Perry at the bar, but desired to ex- 
press the sentiment that in the death of Colonel 
Perry the State has lost one of her most noble 
sons. He lived the life of an honest, quiet, 
country gentleman, and it was the delight of his 
people to honor the modest, unostentatious and 
unpretentious but fearless and dauntless man. 

Judge Gary commented beautifully upon the 
occasion and its great fitness. He said that it 



was a sad reflection to consider that one who had 
so lived as to endear himself to the hearts of his 
people should be called over the river at the age 
when most men are reaping the just honors and 
rewards of a well spent life. He had not known 
Colonel Perry intimately, but all South Caro- 
linians know and history will record the fact 
that he filled a high place in the bright galaxy of 
distinguished Carolinians, among whom was his 
own noble father and it may well be said, "sic 
pater, sic filius." His spirit was dauntless in 
war, but gentle in peace, and the elements were 
so mixed in him that the world might stand up 
and say, "this was a man." It affords the court 
great pleasure to order the resolutions spread 
upon the minutes and as further mark of respect 
it is ordered that the court do stand adjourned. 



TKe Late Colonel Perry. 

The following is clipped from The Laurens 
County News in regard to the late Col. William 
H. Perry : 

"The people of Laurens county hear with pro- 
found sorrow of the death of Col. William H. 
Perry of Greenville, formerly their representa- 
tive in Congress. Col. Perry was a brave and 
faithful soldier in the War between the States, a 
capable lawyer and, more than all, a modest, up- 
right and loyal gentleman. His life and career 
were honorable to South Carolina and hundreds 
of old friends in Laurens hold his memory in 
tender regard." 



n 



E-x-Con^ressman Perry. 

The following notice published in The Spar- 
tanburg Journal in regard to the late Colonel 
William Hayne Perry will be read with interest 
in Greenville ; 

"The death of William Hayne Perry at his home 
near Greenville Monday afternoon removes a 
figure once very familiar in political circles of 
this section. Mr. Perry's father, Hon, B. F. Perry, 
was known as a Union man during the war, but 
had the respect and confidence of all parties. His 
administration as governor of the State just after 
that period was marked by conservatism and good 
sense. 

"W. H. Perry was always a Democrat in poli- 
tics. He was a graduate of Harvard and served 
in the Confederate army. In Spartanburg he was 
best known for his congressional career. On the 
death of Colonel John H. Evins of this city in 
1884 Mr, Perry was chosen to succeed him. He 
was twice re-elected to the office, retiring volun- 
tarily in 1891, when he was succeeded by G. W. 
Shell of Laurens, author of the famous Shell 
manifesto and one of the leaders of there form 
movement. 

"It is a sad coincident that Mr. Perry's death 
should follow so soon after that of Major D. R. 
Duncan of this city. The two men were about 
the same age and were leading attorneys in their 
respective towns, and were prominent in politics 
at the same time. Every one here remembers the 
campaign when they were rivals for the congres- 
sional nomination. Spartanburg was loyal to 
Duncan, but Perry was renominated by a good 



majority. They both retired to private life soon 
afterwards." 

^^ 

Col. William Hayne Perry, whose death at his 
country seal, Sans Souci, Greenville, S. C, was 
announced yesterday, was gifted far beyond most 
men, and suffered a measure of physical pain 
which few mortals are called upon by fate to 
suffer. 

"For several years Colonel Perry had been bed- 
ridden and entirely helpless, being unable to 
take even a glass of water or a whiffof his beloved 
pipe unassisted." In the full strength of strong 
manhood he was suddenly stricken with paralysis 
and henceforth was as helpless as a little baby. 
His mind remained perfectly clear and alert, and 
his power of speech unaffected, as if to make his 
suffering all the greater, for he had been extreme- 
ly fond of strenuous out-door exercise. He was 
accounted one of the best horsemen in South 
Carolina and a noted breeder of blooded stock. 

"Though confined continuously to his bed- 
room, which was brightened by the tender devo- 
tion and ceaseless care of his wife. Colonel 
Perry kept constantly in touch with the outside 
world in which he had played a conspicuous and 
honored part. Every morning Mrs. Perry would 
read to him the daily newspaper, and occasionally 
he received three or four of his most intimate 
friends and kinsmen, including his family physi- 
cian, Dr. T. T. Earle, of Greenville, who was 
with him at his last moment. 

"There is much of pathos in the condition 
that through the long years of his great afflic- 



tiou, his tobacco pipe was to Colonel Perry a 
constant and never-failing solace. In an antique 
glass case in the splendid old library at Sans 
Souci there is mute and insentient, yet patheti- 
cally and intensely human testimony to the 
blessing that tobacco was to this man. He pos- 
sessed what was held to be a rare collection 
of meerschaum pipes. He obtained and kept 
these pipes not for the love of collecting 
and displaying, but for the love of smoking 
them, as every pipe now bears witness. After he 
was first stricken down and confined a prisoner 
of pain in his own house, almost his first request 
was for one of his pipes. His wife took from the 
pocket of his now useless coat he had been wear- 
ing his favorite pipe, filled it with tobacco, 
placed the stem between his lips, and applied a 
light, and he smoked ; and daily, hourly almost, 
ever since then she has performed a similar 
duty. But the first cherished pipe fell from the 
smoker's lips and was broken upon the floor be- 
side the invalid's chair which he was fated to 
occupy so long. He asked for another one of 
his beloved meerschaums, and that too was 
broken ; and another and another in the same 
manner. One by one all those rare and priceless 
old pipes were broken ; and in the antique glass 
case in the old library they rest today with the 
thousands of rare books which the master shall 
not touch again, for he too rests there as silent as 
the pipes and books he loved so well, while out- 
side under the ancient oaks of a paradise of 
beauty turned to a place of grief the funeral cor- 
tege is forming." „ . . , a zj i^ 

—Birmingham Age-Herald. 



TKe Master of Sans Souci. 

"Colonel Perry, who for several years repre- 
sented the Greenville district in Congress, was 
a scholarly and gifted man of affairs, and en- 
joyed to an extraordinary degree the personal 
esteem of South Carolinians. He was before his 
illness the most powerful leader of the Piedmont, 
that rich and beautiful district of upper South 
Carolina of which Greenville is the far-famed and 
beautiful capital. Sans Souci, his home, three 
miles from Greenville, is known all over the 
south as a seat of culture, refinement and hospi- 
tality. It is an indescribably beautiful retreat 
from the noise of the turbulent world, and there 
famous South Carolinians for generations have 
been entertained. Colonel Perry's father was 
governor of South Carolina, and the family 
has been powerful there since the old 
colonial days. Thus is Sans Souci very rich in 
historic interest, and with its remarkable library 
and its treasures of statuary- and paintings it is 
to the student and the historian intensely in- 
teresting. 

Colonel Perry, while a member of Congress 
some fourteen years ago, married Miss Louise 
Bankhead, eldest of the five children of Con- 
gressman John Hollis Bankhead of Fayette, and 
therefore in him Alabamians felt a personal in- 
terest. Two children, a boy and a girl, were 
born of the marriage and with the mother sur- 
vive the father. Colonel Perry was sixty-two 
years old. 

"It seems singularly hard that Mrs. Perry, 
whose ceaseless devotion to and attendance 



upon her invalid husband had won the admira- 
tion of a multitude of good men and women, 
should have at last been denied the privilege of 
being with him when the end came. She had 
been obliged to come to Alabama on urgent busi- 
ness, and was in Birmingham when her husband 
suddenly died. Ever since Colonel Perry be- 
came disabled by his affliction the exacting busi- 
ness burden of his household and estate has 
been actively, bravely and successfully borne by 
his wife." — Birmingham Age-Herald. 

Fairview, near Lynn, N. C, July 14, 1902. 

My Dear Mrs, Perry: 

My earnest and heartfelt sympathy is with you 
in your severe bereavement, the loss of your 
dear husband and my valued friend. His death 
recalls many memories of a not distant past, 
when we were all in Washington together, when 
you were a young bride, who kindly welcomed 
your husband's friend to a share of your esteem 
and friendship. And tho' but a few years have 
rolled by since then, yet they have been full of 
changes to us all. Your dear husband an in- 
valid, requiring and receiving your loving care 
and attention ; and the beautiful and lively young 
bride, becoming an ear-nest and energetic worker, 
battling with the stern realities of life, and 
patiently trying to solve its manifold problems. 
Mysterious are the workings of Divine Provd. 
dence ; strange are His dispensations concerning 
humanity. But it becomes our duty, as it is our 
only resource, to submit with hope and trust to 



His will, and to realize that He doeth all things 
well. May His strength and care sustain you, my 
dear friend, in these dark days of trial. 

I was very much attached to my deceased 
friend, and many delightful hours we spent to- 
gether, when we were colleagues in Congress. 
His sterling, steady worth commanded respect ; 
his high-toned character and strong devotion to 
his friends, commanded their attachment and ad- 
miration. While not aggressive or self-seeking, 
and of a taciturn disposition, yet he was a man of 
solid judgment, arriving at his conclusions on 
public questions after careful study and reflec- 
tion, and was then unwavering in his adherence 
to his conceptions, and was not to be swerved 
from opinions thus maturely and carefully 
formed. He was, therefore, an ideal represen- 
tative of his constituency, giving to their service 
an honest, manly and judicious oflfering of his 
well-rounded intellectual powers. 

If there was any one trait of character which 
was pre-eminently conspicuous in the career of 
William H. Perry, it was his conscientiousness. 
And he was true to promptings of that inner 
monitor, which never fails to point us to the 
path of duty. And the great and good God, who 
is our kind Heavenly Father, and who does not 
judge His children by their loud professions of 
piety, or by their rigid observance of forms and 
methods of worship, but by their deeds, not 
words, will find in the life-record of him whom 
we mourn, a career fraught with good deeds in- 
spired by good intentions, with acts of kindness 
and of brotherhood to his fellow man, and of 
whom it can be truly said, "He was a Christian 



■ 



gentleman." I am one of those who have great 
confidence in the generosity of God's judgments. 
" We are his offspring," and his chief creation. 
God will not judge by harsh Pharisaic rules, in 
awarding to us our several futures in the spirit- 
world ; and he will be merciful to our short com- 
ings, for we, at the best, are but feeble mortals, 
striving to follow our paths of duty, as they open 
up before us. And I have faith to believe that 
you can safely put your trust in God's mercy 
towards your beloved husband, and need have 
no fears for his eternal safety and happiness. For 
what can the most pious of earth hope for, except 
from the mercy of God. 

I trust that you are in health, and have been 
gratified to learn, from inquiries made by me of 
Greenville people, that your school has a high 
reputation and is a success. 

With much respect, I remain, 

Very sincerely your friend, 

Samuei. DibbIvE. 






GREENvii,r,E, S. C, JUI.Y lo, 1902. 

Dear Mrs. Perry: 

Let me say just a word of sympathy. I have 
lost a good friend and you much more than a 
friend ; yet there should be some consolation in 
the thought that he is now at least released from 
his intense pain, mental as well as physical, and 
"rests from his labours." To you especially he 
leaves a spotless name and the memory of a char- 
acter without blemish — a priceless heritage to his 
children. I was for years closely associated with 



him in business and cannot recall an instance in 
which his conduct was other than of a brave, 
high-toned gentleman. 

That we have lost him is all sufficient cause for 
sorrow and regret, but that he has left us the ex- 
ample of a noble life must be to his family and 
friends the sorrow of infinite satisfaction and 
comfort. May you live many years among us 
to keep us in mind of his noble character and 
the great love he felt for you, is the sincere wish 
of your friend Juwus H. Heyward. 



The following verses of an ode to "Our Hon- 
ored Dead" may be used appropriately: 

"Our honored dead ! how calm he sleeps 
Beneath the flower-decked sod today ! 

Unmindful of the eyes that weep, 

Unmindful of the hearts that keep 

Sad vigils o'er his clay. 

Sleep on, then, comrade ; rest in peace. 

With flowers we strew they narrow bed. 

Thy deeds shall live, thy fame increase, 
Till time shall end and wars shall cease. 

Sleep on, thou honored dead 1 



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LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 







